James Schimka, Sr

1882 - 1940  (58 years)

• Name	James Schimka
  Suffix	Sr
  Born	7 Jan 1882	Čermn   [1, 2, 3]
  	About the place of birth. A colleague who is from the Czech Republic looked over the historical documents that I have found and assisted with the place names as they exist today. To the best of our knowledge, this is the correct place of birth. However, it is important to note that during the span of time encompassing the immigration, the area was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
  		James Schimka Death Certificate The death certificate of James Schimka Sr. in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois.
  Gender	Male
  Also Known As	James Schimka was originally Vaclav Simka (accent marks ommitted - see image of name). Early documents from ships passenger manifests to naturalization records show a wavering between names, including various spellings, but a quick adoption of the name James is evident. The name Vaclav originates from an older form of the name, Venceslav, which when taken in its parts, vence = wreaths (plural) and slav = celebration (masculine form), slava = celebration (feminine form), means, "wreaths designed for celebrations." Vaclav was probably a common name given in honor of Saint Vaclav, also known as Wenceslas, who was a 10th century duke of Bohemia murdered by his brother. Several Bohemian Kings have also born the name. Saint Vaclav is the patron saint of the Czech Republic. Some early records in America for James Schimka Sr. also bear the name Wenceslaus or Wenceslas. How James was chosen, we do not know but, there are no easy variations or conversions of Vaclav in the English language, so we can speculate that the name James was simply adopted due to the difficulty presented by the foreign sounding name of Vaclav in his new homeland. The pronunciation of Simka is as we pronounce Schimka today.  [4]
  		James (Vaclav Simka) Schimka Declaration of Intention Report This is a report of Declarations of Intention to become a naturalized citizen provided by an online search feature of the Records and Archives department of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=RecArchivePage&RecArchivePage=6000
  		James (Vaclav Simka) Schimka Declaration of Intention This is a copy of the actual Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States of America.
  		James Schimka Sr original name spelling James Schimka Sr original name spelling
  Immigration	16 Nov 1912	Bremen, Germany   [4, 5]
  	Departure from Bremen, Germany for New York.
  		James Schimka Sr. Ship Manifest James Schimka Sr. and family listed on the manifest for the vessel, S.S. George Washington arriving at Ellis Island in 1912. Page 1 of 2.
  		James Schimka Sr. Ship Manifest James Schimka Sr. and family listed on the manifest for the vessel, S.S. George Washington arriving at Ellis Island in 1912. Page 2 of 2.
  Immigration	25 Nov 1912	Ellis Island, New York, New York   [6, 7]
  	Arrives in the United States of America aboard the vessel, S.S. George Washington.
  		James Schimka Petition for Naturalization James Schimka and family Petition for Naturalization
  		James Schimka Sr. Ship Manifest James Schimka Sr. and family listed on the manifest for the vessel, S.S. George Washington arriving at Ellis Island in 1912. Page 1 of 2.
  		James Schimka Sr. Ship Manifest James Schimka Sr. and family listed on the manifest for the vessel, S.S. George Washington arriving at Ellis Island in 1912. Page 2 of 2.
  Naturalization	16 Feb 1917	Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois   [4]
  	Declaration of Intention
  	Age: 34
  	Address: Des Plaines, IL
  	Declaration Number: 62533
  		James (Vaclav Simka) Schimka Declaration of Intention Report This is a report of Declarations of Intention to become a naturalized citizen provided by an online search feature of the Records and Archives department of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=RecArchivePage&RecArchivePage=6000
  		James (Vaclav Simka) Schimka Declaration of Intention This is a copy of the actual Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States of America.
  Residence	7 Feb 1920	Thacker St, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois   [8]
  		James Schimka 1920 Census James Schimka enumerated on the 1920 Census in Cook County, Illinois page 1 of 2.
  		James Schimka 1920 Census James Schimka and family enumerated on the 1920 Census in Cook County, Illinois pg 2 of 2.
  Naturalization	23 Jan 1923	Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois   [9]
  	Affidavit to replace lost naturalization application forms
  		James Schimka - Affidavit for issuing new naturalization paper in lieu of one lost or destroyed. On 23 January 1923 James Schimka Sr requested a new copy of his naturalization application forms and stated on an affidavit for this purpose that the original copies, "were destroyed by children, efforts to find same having been made by searching through all personal affects and household but unable to locate same."
  Naturalization	19 Apr 1923	Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois   [4]
  	Petition for Naturalization
  	Petition No: 55250
  		James Schimka Petition for Naturalization James Schimka and family Petition for Naturalization
  Naturalization	28 Sep 1923	Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois   [10]
  	(A) Oath of Allegiance
  	The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has a fee-based service to obtain copies of the Certificate of Naturalization of deceased individuals. Some of the documents related to naturalization were obtained from this service while others were obtained from the Cook County Clerks office. Main USCIS Page: http://www.uscis.gov Genealogy Info Page: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=d21f3711ca5ca110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=d21f3711ca5ca110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD Record Order Page: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=0b03299f81bb8210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=0b03299f81bb8210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Reference is made to Certificate of Naturalization No: 1777486
  		James Schimka Oath of Allegiance The Oath of Allegiance for the process of becoming a naturalized citizen of The United States of America.
  Naturalization	28 Sep 1923	Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois   [9]
  	(B) Certificate Number: 1777486
  		James Schimka Sr Certificate of Naturalization This is the Certificate of Naturalization for James Schimka Sr and eight of his children. The eldest four children were born overseas and the remaining four who had been born by this time were all born in Illinois.
  Residence	2 Apr 1930	1064 Thacker St, Des Plaines, Illinois   [11]
  		James Schimka 1930 Census James Schimka and family on the 1930 Census including his oldest son, also named James, married to his first wife, Lydia.
  Residence	10 Apr 1940	750 South State Street, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois   [12]
  	Elgin State Hospital
  		James Schimka Sr., 1940 Census, Kane County, Illinois. On this date, James Sr. was enumerated at the Elgin State Hospital. Only 7 days later he was enumerated at his home in Des Plaines but it is uncertain at this time whether he had actually left the hospital. When James died, three months later, information on his death certificate stated that he had been at the hospital for two years.
  Residence	17 Apr 1940	1064 Thacker St, Des Plaines, Illinois   [12]
  		James Schimka Sr. family, 1940 Census, Des Plaines, Illinois.
  Died	29 Jul 1940	750 South State Street, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois   [13]
  	Agency: Elgin State Hospital
  		James Schimka Death Certificate The death certificate of James Schimka Sr. in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois.
  Buried	1 Aug 1940	Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, Cook, IL, United States   [14]
  		James Schimka Death Certificate The death certificate of James Schimka Sr. in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois.
  		Bohemian National Cemetery The entry at Bohemian National Cemetery. Bohemian National was added as a national historical site at the cemetery's centennial in 1977.
  		James Schimka and Anna Frana-Schimka Headstone at Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
  Person ID	I113	Schimka Family Tree
  Last Modified	7 Jun 2012

  
  

  Father	Schimka
  Mother	Anna
  Family ID	F86	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Anna Frana,   b. 24 Jul 1883, Tu ,   d. 12 Jan 1947, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 63 years)
  Married	Abt 1902	Austria
  Children	1. James Schimka, Jr,   b. 15 Dec 1903, N ,   d. 21 Jul 1957, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 53 years)   2. Joseph Schimka, Sr,   b. 24 Jul 1907, Germany ,   d. 29 Jul 1970, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 63 years)   3. Carl Schimka,   b. 25 Feb 1909, Germany ,   d. 11 Apr 1984, Park Ridge, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 75 years) + 4. Frances Schimka,   b. 30 Jun 1911, Germany   5. Anthony Schimka,   b. 16 Nov 1915, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois ,   d. 17 Jul 1976, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 60 years) + 6. John Schimka,   b. 17 Apr 1919, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois ,   d. 25 Jan 1961, St. Pete Beach, Pinellas County, Florida  (Age 41 years)   7. Mary Schimka,   b. 28 Apr 1919, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois ,   d. 2 Aug 1988, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 69 years) + 8. Edward Schimka,   b. 22 Mar 1922, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois ,   d. 23 Dec 1967, 100 North River Road, Des Plaines, Illinois  (Age 45 years)   9. Helen Schimka,   b. 9 Jul 1925, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois ,   d. 2 Oct 2002, Melrose Park, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 77 years)
  Photos » Slide Show		S.S. George Washingtion SS George Washington, the ship that carried the Schimka Family to the United States in 1912.
  		S.S. George Washingtion Post Card post World War I A post card of the SS George Washington, one of the largest passenger ships of its time. After World War I the S.S. George Washington was taken over by the United States Lines and passenger service resumed.
  		USS George Washington USS George Washington. This is likely a post 1917 photo. The SS George Washington was siezed by United States Lines in 1917 and served as a troop carrier during WWII. The writing on the photo is likely that of a soldier at the end of WWI or WWII.
  		The Schimka Family A portrait of the Schimka family shortly after arriving in The United States of America. James Schimka Sr. Standing in the back. Unknown Woman sitting on the left (In White). Anna Frana-Schimka sitting on the right (In Black). Carl Schimka standing in the middle (In White). Frances Schimka standing on right. James Schimka Jr. lying on the ground at the left. Joseph Schimka lying on the ground at the right.
  Documents » Slide Show		James Schimka Petition for Naturalization James Schimka and family Petition for Naturalization
  		James Schimka 1957 Death Certificate
  		John Schimka's 1919 Baptism
  		Carl Schimka's Social Security Application
  		Joseph Schimka's Social Security Application
  Family ID	F85	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 7 Jan 1882 - Čermn Married - Abt 1902 - Austria Immigration - Arrives in the United States of America aboard the vessel, S.S. George Washington. - 25 Nov 1912 - Ellis Island, New York, New York Naturalization - Declaration of Intention,Age: 34,Address: Des Plaines, IL - 16 Feb 1917 - Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois Residence - 7 Feb 1920 - Thacker St, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois Naturalization - Affidavit to replace lost naturalization application forms - 23 Jan 1923 - Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois Naturalization - Petition for Naturalization - 19 Apr 1923 - Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois Naturalization - (A) Oath of Allegiance - 28 Sep 1923 - Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois Naturalization - (B) Certificate Number: 1777486 - 28 Sep 1923 - Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois Residence - 2 Apr 1930 - 1064 Thacker St, Des Plaines, Illinois Residence - Elgin State Hospital - 10 Apr 1940 - 750 South State Street, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois Residence - 17 Apr 1940 - 1064 Thacker St, Des Plaines, Illinois Died - Agency: Elgin State Hospital - 29 Jul 1940 - 750 South State Street, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois Buried - 1 Aug 1940 - Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, Cook, IL, United States  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		James Schimka Sr. Portrait This is a photo of James Schimka Sr. shortly after arrival in The United States of America. This photo is cropped from a family portrait.
  		The Schimka Family A portrait of the Schimka family shortly after arriving in The United States of America. James Schimka Sr. Standing in the back. Unknown Woman sitting on the left (In White). Anna Frana-Schimka sitting on the right (In Black). Carl Schimka standing in the middle (In White). Frances Schimka standing on right. James Schimka Jr. lying on the ground at the left. Joseph Schimka lying on the ground at the right.
  		James Schimka Sr. James Schimka Sr. with his working team in Des Plaines, Illinois.

  
  

  Documents

  James Schimka Oath of Allegiance The Oath of Allegiance for the process of becoming a naturalized citizen of The United States of America.

  
  

• Notes

  Known Address: 1064 Thacker St, Des Plaines, Illinois James Schimka Sr had Bronchoneumonia for three days. He died at 1:30 AM at the Elgin State Hospital at 750 So. State St., Elgin, Illinois. The Vessel George Washington Built by A/G Vulcan Shipyard, Stettin, Germany, 1909. 25570 gross tons; 723 (bp) feet long; 72 feet wide. Steam quadruple expansion engines, twin screw. Service speed 18 1/2 knots. 2679 passengers ( 568 first class, 433 second class, 1678 third class ). Built for North German Lloyd, German flag, in 1909 and named George Washington. Bremerhaven-New York service. Interned at New York at the start of World War I in 1914. Seized by United States Lines, in 1917 and renamed USS George Washington. Also Bremerhaven-New York service. Assigned to United States Lines; began Bremerhaven-NY sailings 1921. Laid up Additional Arrivals, in 1932. Renamed Caitlin in 1940. Refitted as troopship in 1940; World War II service. Reverted to George Washington. Completely destroyed by a fire at Baltimore; wreckage scrapped in 1951. While in Germany, the Schimka family may have lived in town called Castrop-Rauxel which is a former mining city in the eastern part of the Ruhr Area.

  
  

• Sources

  [S1064] Immigration and Naturalization Records, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL. Declaration of Intention [S1064] Immigration and Naturalization Records, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL. Petition for Naturalization [S1066] The Ellis Island Archives, American Family Immigration History Center (AFIHC). First Name: Wenzel Last Name: Schimcka Ethnicity: Austria, Bohemian Last Place of Residence: Germany Date of Arrival: Nov 25, 1912 Age at Arrival: 30y Gender: M Marital Status: M Ship of Travel: George Washington Port of Departure: Bremen Manifest Line Number: 0003 Note the name spelling Wenzel Schimcka. Be sure to use THAT spelling when searching at EllisIsland.org. [S1064] Immigration and Naturalization Records, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL. [S753] List or Manifest of Alien Immigrants for the Commissioner of Immigration, Commissioner of Immigration. [S1064] Immigration and Naturalization Records, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL, Petition No: 55250. Petition for Naturalization Vaclav Simka, also known as, James Schimka . . . "I emmigrated to the United States from Bremen, Germany on or about the 16 November anno domini 1912, and arrived in the United States, at the port of New York, on the 25 day of November anno domini 1912, on the vessel George Washington . . . [S753] List or Manifest of Alien Immigrants for the Commissioner of Immigration, Commissioner of Immigration. The Schimka family listed as passengers on the S.S. George Washington upon arrival at Ellis Island, New York, New York. [S1048] 1920 U.S. Census, Department of Commerce and Labor - Bureau of the Census. [S1090] U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. [S1064] Immigration and Naturalization Records, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL, 28 Sep 1923. Oath of Allegiance The court admitted the petitioner and noted the name change from Vaclav Simka to James Schimka. [S1049] 1930 U.S. Census, Department of Commerce and Labor - Bureau of the Census . [S1147] 1940 U.S. Census, Department of Commerce and Labor - Bureau of the Census. [S1064] Immigration and Naturalization Records, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL. Date and place of death are shown on the Death Certificate. [S1064] Immigration and Naturalization Records, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL. Date and place of burial are shown on the death certificate.